Rotatable patch cable holder

ABSTRACT

A multi-positionable tray assembly (20) for mounting within a chassis (10) of a telecommunications panel (100) is disclosed. The multi-positionable tray assembly (20) may include a support arm (24) that pivotally supports a tray (22) and that allows the tray assembly (20) to be installed and removed from the chassis (10). The tray (22) and the support arm (24) cooperatively define a cable routing pathway (208) extending through a pivot axis (A1) defined by the tray and the support arm. To minimize the required tray (22) depth and optimize cable routing, the tray (20) can include a cable management structure (102) with a patch panel (104) having a plurality of adapters (108) arranged along a transverse axis (A2) that is non-parallel or oblique to a front plane (A4) of the tray. To improve connector access, rotatable patch cable holders (400) can be provided on the patch panel (104).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/111,801, filed on Aug. 24, 2018, which is a Continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 15/512,031, filed on Mar. 16, 2017, now U.S.Pat. No. 10,082,634, which is a National Stage Application ofPCT/EP2015/071222, filed on Sep. 16, 2015, which claims benefit of U.S.Patent Application Ser. No. 62/064,316, filed on Oct. 15, 2014, thedisclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties. To the extent appropriate, a claim of priority is made toeach of the above disclosed applications.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to telecommunications panels and cablebend control guides, patch cable supports, and hinges adapted to be usedin various telecommunications panels.

BACKGROUND

Numerous telecommunications panels exist today and are used in variousequipment applications. Conventional telecommunications panels includehinges that are designed to allow a tray to be rotated out of thetelecommunications panel. By rotating the tray out of thetelecommunications panel, access is provided to rear portions of atermination field. Such trays may include cable management structuresthat aid in organizing and managing telecommunications cables routed toand away from the telecommunications panel.

SUMMARY

Aspects of the disclosure are directed to a multi-positionable trayassembly for mounting within a chassis of a telecommunications panel. Inone aspect, the multi-positionable tray assembly includes a tray and asupport arm. The tray is configured to support at least one cablemanagement structure while the support arm is connected to and supportsthe tray at a pivot joint. This structure allows the tray to berotatable about the pivot joint at a pivot axis between a foldedposition and an access position. In one aspect, the support arm isconfigured for removable attachment to the chassis such that themulti-positionable tray assembly can be placed in a removed positionaway from the chassis and an installed position within the chassis.

In one aspect, the tray and the support arm cooperatively define a cablerouting pathway that extends through the pivot axis of the pivot jointdefined by the tray and the support arm. In contrast to pivoting traysrelying upon a structural element extending along the pivot axis, thedisclosed configuration has an open configuration that allows forcabling to be routed through the pivot axis without having to be routedaround a structural element.

In yet another aspect, the cable management structure in the trayincludes a patch panel having a plurality of adapters arranged along atransverse axis, wherein each of the adapters has a longitudinalconnection axis. In one configuration, some of the adapters arepositioned with their longitudinal connection axes disposed at anoblique angle relative to the transverse axis. In one configuration, thepatch panel transverse axis is non-parallel or oblique to the front faceand rear side of the tray. By placing the adapters at an angle relativeto the tray and the transverse axis, less depth is required of the trayto accommodate cabled fiber optic connecters that are connected oneither or both sides of the adapters. By placing the patch paneltransverse axis at an angle with respect to the front face of the tray,the areas within the tray that have the largest accumulated bundles ofpatch cables are increased in size to better accommodate the cords.

In yet another aspect, the patch panel is provided with one or morerotatable patch cable holders for improving access to adjacentconnectors and adapters. The patch cable holder can be provided with abase portion, a cable support portion configured to support a pluralityof patch cables, and a hinge portion. The hinge portion can rotatablyconnect the base portion to the cable support portion such that thecable support portion can rotate generally about an axis with respect tothe base portion. In one example, the hinge portion is formed as aliving hinge. In one example, the base portion, the cable portion, andthe hinge portion are integrally formed as a single component.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the description, illustrate several aspects of the presentdisclosure. A brief description of the drawings is as follows:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example telecommunications panelincluding a plurality of multi-positionable tray assembly in accordancewith principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the telecommunications panel of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the telecommunications panel of FIG. 1,with one of the multi-positionable tray assemblies in a removedposition;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the chassis of the telecommunicationspanel of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one of the multi-positionable trayassemblies of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the multi-positionable trays of FIG. 6with the various cable management structures removed from the tray;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the multi-positionable tray assembly ofFIG. 6 mounted to the chassis in an installed position and rotated intoan access position;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional perspective view of one of themulti-positionable tray assemblies of FIG. 1 shown in an installedposition and rotated into an access position;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a tray of one of the multi-positionabletray assemblies of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a top view of the tray of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a front view of the tray of FIG. 10′

FIG. 12 is a front-right perspective view of a support arm of one of themulti-positionable trays of FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is a front-left perspective view of the support arm of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a top view of the support arm of FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is a bottom view of the support arm of FIG. 12;

FIG. 16 is an end view of the support arm of FIG. 12;

FIG. 17 is a perspective photographic view of a support arm of FIG. 12with cables routed within a cable routing path defined by the supportarm;

FIG. 18 is a perspective photographic view of a support arm of FIG. 12with cables of FIG. 17 wrapped around the first end of the support armabout the pivot joint; and

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the telecommunications panel of FIG. 1,with additional cable mounting features mounted thereon.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of one of the multi-positionable trayassemblies of FIG. 1 with alternative patch cable holders installed.

FIG. 21 is a top view of the multi-positionable tray assembly of FIG.20.

FIG. 22 is a perspective close up view of a portion of themulti-positionable tray assembly of FIG. 20 showing multiple attachedand unattached patch cable holders.

FIG. 23 is a perspective close up view of a portion of themulti-positionable tray assembly of FIG. 20 showing a single unattachedpatch cable holder.

FIG. 24 is top close up view of a portion of the multi-positionable trayassembly of FIG. 20 showing multiple attached and unattached patch cableholders.

FIG. 25 is a front perspective view of a single patch cable holder ofthe multi-positionable tray of FIG. 20.

FIG. 26 is a rear perspective view of the single patch cable holder ofFIG. 25.

FIG. 27 is a partial perspective view of one of the multi-positionabletray assemblies of FIG. 1 without any patch cable holders installed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary aspects of the presentdisclosure that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wheneverpossible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout thedrawings to refer to the same or similar parts.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a telecommunications panel 100 (e.g., anenclosure, an optical distribution frame, etc.) is illustrated accordingto the principles of the present disclosure. As further illustrated atFIG. 1, the telecommunications panel 100 may be included in a cabinet200. The telecommunications panel 100 and/or the cabinet 200 may be usedfor various purposes in telecommunications systems. For example, housinga cable management structure 102 including, for example, stacked splicetrays 112 and a patch panel 104. In one aspect, patch cables 302, 304(i.e., patch cables, connectorized fiber optic cables, etc.) may enterthe telecommunications panel 100 and/or the cabinet 200 and beinterconnected at a patch panel 104. The patch panel 104 may include aplurality of fiber to optic adapters 108. Fiber optic connectors 110,114 that terminate ends of the patch cables 302, 304 may connect withthe fiber optic adapters 108 of the patch panel 104. Theinterconnections at the patch panel 104 may be rearranged fromtime-to-time, as desired, for changing configurations of thetelecommunications system. The telecommunications panel 100 may furtherhold splitters, filters, and various other telecommunicationscomponents.

The telecommunications panel 100 may include a chassis 10 to which aplurality of stacked multi-positionable tray assemblies 20 may beremovably attached. In one aspect, the multi-positionable tray assembly20 includes a tray 22 (e.g., a sub-rack) and a support arm 24 that arepivotally connected to each other via a pivot joint 26 that allows thetray assembly 20 to be moved between a folded position 200 and an accessposition 202. The pivot joint 26 is formed by the interface between anupper joint arm 28 of the support arm 24 and an upper joint extension 32of the tray 22 and by the interface between a lower joint arm 30 of thesupport arm 24 and a lower joint extension 34 of the tray 22. Theinterfaces can be secured together by a variety of structures, forexample, a snap-fit type connection via protrusions and correspondingrecesses or by a connection utilizing fasteners. As depicted, the pivotjoint 26 represents the connection between the tray 22 and the supportarm 24 to the chassis 10 and defines a vertical hinge with an axis A1for the multi-positionable tray assembly 20.

As most easily seen at FIG. 4, the chassis 10 includes a rear side 10 aextending between a first side 10 c and a second side 10 d. The chassis10 also includes an open front side 10 b for slidably receiving the trayassembly 20. The chassis may include a number of features to facilitatethe mounting of the tray assembly 20 to the chassis 10 from a removedposition 206 to an installed position 204. For example, the chassis 10may be provided with a plurality of attachment slots 12 at the first andsecond sides 10 c, 10 d that are configured to engage with correspondingattachment guide members 40 located on the support arm 24. In theembodiment shown, the attachment slots 12 and the guide members 40extend in a direction D1 that is parallel to the first and second sides10 c, 10 d of the chassis 10. This configuration allows the guidemembers 40 to engage with the attachment slots 12 when the tray assembly20 is inserted into the chassis 10 into an installed position 204. Inone example, the guide members 40 have a T-shape cross-section to moresecurely engage the attachment slots 12 by preventing rotation of thesupport arm 24 with respect to the side 10 c or 10 d of the chassis 10to which the support arm 24 is attached.

The chassis 10 can also be provided with features to secure the trayassembly 20 within the chassis 10 so that the tray assembly 20 isretained in the installed position 204. For example, the chassis 10 canbe provided with a first latch recess 14 configured to receive a firstlatch member 36 of the tray assembly 20. In the embodiment shown, thesupport arm 24 is provided with a depressible first latch member 36 thatinitially deflects as the tray assembly 20 is being pushed into theinstalled position 204 and then snaps into the latch recess 14 once thetray assembly 20 is fully installed to form a snap-fit type ofconnection. The tray assembly 20 can be released from the chassis 10 bydepressing the latch member 36 and pulling the tray assembly out of thechassis 10.

The chassis 10 can also be provided with features to secure the tray 22of the tray assembly 20 to the chassis 10 so that the tray assembly 20is retained in the folded position 200. For example, the chassis 10 canbe provided with a second latch recess 14 configured to receive a secondlatch member 38 of the tray assembly 20. In the embodiment shown, thesupport arm 24 is provided with a second depressible latch member 38that initially deflects as the tray assembly 20 is being rotated intothe folded position 200 and then snaps into the latch recess 38 once thetray assembly 20 is fully rotated to form a snap-fit type of connection.The tray 22 can be released from the chassis 10 by depressing the latchmember 38 and rotating the tray 22 away from the chassis 10 towards theaccess position 202.

The chassis 10 can also be configured to support other components of thetelecommunications panel 100, as desired. For example, the chassis 10can be configured to support cable management features 44 and 54. In theembodiment shown, cable management features 54 and 44 guide patch cables304 extending from the tray assembly 20. The chassis 10 may also beprovided with one or more features for allowing cable to enter thechassis 10, for example cable routing slot 46 and cable routing aperture48.

In addition to the previously described aspects of the support arm 24,the support arm 24 further includes a first end 24 a and a second end 24b having an exterior side 24 d, a top wall 24 e, and a bottom wall 24 fIn the embodiment presented, the walls 24 e, 24 f and the side 24 dtogether form a channel-like structure having an open interior side 24 cwithin which a portion of a cable pathway 208 is formed. Adjacent thefirst end 24 a are the upper and lower joint arms 28, 30 that form apart of the pivot joint 26. In one aspect, the support arm 24 isprovided with a plurality of cable guides 42 to ensure that cables 300routed within the support arm 24 are adequately retained.

In addition to the previously described aspects of the tray 22, the tray22 further includes a rear side 22 a and a front side 22 b that extendbetween opposite first and seconds sides 22 c, 22 d. The tray 22 mayalso be provided with a cover 23 for protecting the components and fibersupported within the tray 22. In one aspect, the tray 22 includes a pairof hinges 52 for rotatably supporting an access door or cover. Thelocation of the door and hinges 52 can define a front plane A4 of thetray 22 which is shown as being parallel to the rear side 22 a andorthogonal to the first and second sides 22 c, 22 d.

The tray 22 further defines the cable routing pathway 208 via the wallsforming the first side 22 c and the rear side 22 a of the tray 22, alongwith a bottom portion 22 h of the tray 22. An interior wall structure 22e also functions to define the cable routing pathway 208, as do radiusguides 22 f which prevent the cables 300 from kinking or bending tooseverely. The cables 300 can be further retained within the cablerouting pathway 208 via a plurality of cable guides 22 g located at thetop of the tray 22.

As discussed previously, the cable routing pathway 208 passes betweenthe space defined between the upper and lower joint extensions 32, 34 ofthe tray 22. Because the upper joint extension 32 engages with the upperjoint arm 28 and the lower joint extension 34 engages with the lowerjoint arm 30, the pivot joint 26 is formed without the need for anystructure between the upper and lower joint extensions 32, 34.Accordingly, this space can be utilized to define the cable routingpathway 208 as it extends from the support arm 24 and the tray 22. Theupper and lower joint extensions 32, 34 also serve to constrain thecables 300 as the cables traverse between the support arm 24 and thetray 22. Accordingly, the cables 300 within the cable routing pathway208 enter the tray 22 through the pivot joint 26 in an orientation thatis perpendicular to the rotation axis A1. FIGS. 17 and 18 show anexample of a number of cables 300 passing through the pivot joint 26. Akey benefit to allowing the cables 300 to be routed through the pivotjoint 26 rotational axis A1 is that the routing length of the cables 300can remain relatively unchanged as the tray 22 is rotated between thefolded and access positions 200, 202. Thus, the rotation of the tray 22does not cause undue tension on the cables 300 as the tray 22 is beingrotated about the pivot axis A1.

Referring to FIG. 8, it can be seen that above described configurationresults in the cable routing pathway 208 extending from the second end24 b of the support arm 24 to the first end 24 a of the support arm 24,across the pivot joint 26, and along the first side 22 c and rear side22 a of the tray 22. The cables 300 can further extend from the secondend 24 b of the support arm along the rear side 10 a of the chassis 10towards the second end 10 d, and through the cable routing aperture 48.

In the embodiment presented, the tray 22 is configured to hold aplurality of splice trays 112 or other components to which the cables300 can be routed along the rear side 22 a of the tray 22. In theembodiment shown, the cables 300 extend to the splice trays 112 fromwhich patch cables 302 extend as cabled ends 110 a of fiber opticconnectors 110. The fiber optic connectors 110 are shown as beingconnected to the first sides 108 a of adapters 108. As shown, theadapters 108 are arranged along a transverse axis A2 which generallyextends between the sides 22 c and 22 d of the tray 22. In oneembodiment, the adapters 108 in the patch panel 104 are supported by apatch panel frame 106 extending along transverse axis A2 from a firstend 106 a proximate first side 22 c to a second end 106 b proximatesecond side 22 d. Fiber optic connectors 114 are shown as beingconnected to the second sides 108 b of the adapters 108. The fiber opticconnectors 114 are shown as having cabled ends 114 a which form patchcables 304 which can be routed through cable management features 44 and50 to the outside of the telecommunications panel 100. As shown, cablemanagement feature 50 is a patch cable holder rigidly attached to thepatch panel frame 106.

As shown, the adapters 108 and connectors 110, 114 are aligned along anaxis A3 which is shown as forming an oblique angle with the transverseaxis A2. This configuration is advantageous over configurations in whichthe axes A2 and A3 are generally orthogonal in that less overall depth(i.e. the distance between the rear side 22 a and the front side 22 b)is required of the tray 22 in order to accommodate the cable managementstructures. Additionally, by disposing the cabled ends 114 a of theconnectors 114 at an angle towards the end of the telecommunicationspanel 100 at which the patch cables 304 exit via cable managementfeature 44, less turning is required of the cords and thus bend radiusprotection is enhanced. Likewise, by disposing the cabled ends 110 a ofthe connectors 110 at an angle towards the splice trays 112, lessturning is required of the cords and thus bend radius protection isenhanced in this manner as well. Space allocation can be furtherenhanced by arranging the patch panel frame 106 such that axis A3 is notparallel to the front plane A4 or rear side 22 a. For example, the patchpanel 104 and frame 106 can be oriented such that axis A3 is at an anglefrom about 2 to about 4 degrees, and preferably about 2.5 degrees, withrespect to the axis A4 and the rear side 22 a of the panel 22. Thisconfiguration allows for there to be a greater distance D1 providedbetween the patch panel 104 and the front face plane A4 of the tray 22at the first side 22 c, as compared to the corresponding distance D2 atthe second side 22 d of the tray 22. Likewise, this configuration alsoallows for there to be a greater distance D3 provided between the patchpanel 104 and the splice tray 112 of the tray 22 at the second side 22d, as compared to the corresponding distance D4 at the first side 22 cof the tray 22. As the patch cables 302 are greater towards the secondend 22 d of the tray 22 and the patch cables 304 are greater in numbertowards the first end 22 c of the tray 22, the increased distances D1and D3, respectively, provide for additional cable routing space whereit is most needed and allows for a more compact construction of the tray22.

It is noted that the drawings show a configuration in which the supportarm 24 and pivot joint 26 are proximate the first side 22 c of the tray22. This configuration results in the tray 22 being pivotable from thefirst side 22 c of the tray 22. However, the support arm 24 and tray 22can be produced as mirror images of the embodiment shown in thedrawings, such that the support arm 24 and pivot joint 26 are locatedproximate the second side 22 d of the tray 22 which would allow for thetray 22 to be rotated about the second side 22 d of the tray 22.

Referring to FIGS. 20-26 an embodiment of the telecommunications panel100 is shown which utilizes an alternative patch cable holder 400 ratherthan the previously shown patch cable holder 50. It is noted that theembodiments shown in FIGS. 1-19 may be provided with patch cable holder400 without departing from the concepts presented herein. As shown inFIGS. 20-22, three stacked tray assemblies 20 are provided in which eachtray assembly 20 is provided with two patch cable holders 400 for atotal of six patch cable holders 400 in the panel 100. When the trayassemblies 20 are in the folded position, the patch cable holders 400are vertically aligned into two columns of three patch cable holders400. It is noted that each tray assembly may be provided with only onepatch cable holder 400 or more than two patch cable holder 400, such asthree, four or five patch cable holders 400.

In one aspect, patch cable holder 400 is configured to be rotatable withrespect to the patch panel 104 to increase the amount of space betweenthe patch cable holder 400 and an adjacent connector 114 connected to anadapter 108. This configuration allows for easier manual access to theadjacent adapters 108 and connectors 114 and also allows the connectors114 to be installed and removed with a person's fingers without the useof tooling. As most easily seen at FIG. 25, the patch cable holder 400can be rotated in a first direction R1 away from an adjacent adapter 108and/or connector 114 to maximize the distance D5 between the patch cableholder 400 and the adjacent adapter 108 and/or connector 114. Similarly,the patch cable holder 400 can be rotated in a second direction R2 awayfrom an adjacent adapter 108 and/or connector 114 to maximize thedistance D6 between the patch cable holder 400 and the adjacent adapter108 and/or connector 114. This configuration allows for all of theconnectors 114 to be installed and removed from the front side of thepatch panel 104 without requiring the tray 22 to be opened into theaccess position. Because the tray 22 can remain in the closed or foldedposition, the disclosed configuration minimizes the risk of back sidefiber movement and reduced optical performance that would be associatedwith having to open the tray 22 to install and/or remove connectors 114.

As shown, the patch cable holder 400 is provided with a base portion402, a cable support portion 404, and a hinge portion 406 rotatablyconnecting the base portion 402 to the cable support portion 404. Thisconfiguration allows the cable support portion 404 to rotate generallyabout an axis A5 in the first and second directions R1, R2 with respectto the base portion. Where axis A5 is generally vertical, the first andsecond directions R1, R2 are in a generally horizontal plane. In oneaspect, the base portion 402 is provided with a first side 402 a thatengages with the patch panel 104 and a second opposite side thatinterfaces with the hinge portion 406. To facilitate attachment to thepatch panel 104, the first side 402 a of the base portion 402 may beprovided with one or attachment features 408. In the exemplaryembodiment shown, the base portion 402 is provided with two attachmentfeatures 408 in an upper attachment feature 408 a and a lower attachmentfeature 408 b.

As most easily seen at FIG. 27, the patch panel 104 can be provided withcooperating connecting features 105 for engaging with the attachmentfeatures 408 of the patch cable holder base portion 402. In theembodiment shown, the patch panel 104 is provided with two connectingfeatures 105 with an upper connecting feature 105 a configured to engagewith the attachment feature 408 a and a lower connecting feature 105 bconfigured to engage with the attachment feature 408 b. In one example,the attachment features 408 are configured as protrusions and theconnecting features 105 are configured as recesses. However, theattachment features 408 can be configured as recesses with theconnecting features 105 being configured as protrusions as well. Anyother connecting structure that holds the base portion 402 in anon-rotatable state with respect to the patch panel may also beutilized, for example, channels, pins, latches, and fasteners. In theparticular embodiment shown, the attachment features 408 and connectingfeatures 105 are provided with a dovetail profile shape to form adovetail joint between the patch panel 104 and the base portion 402.

As shown, the patch cable holder 400 is installed onto the patch panel104 by orienting the patch cable holder 400 adjacent to the patch panel104 such that the attachment features 408 are aligned with and above theconnecting features 105, and then moving the patch cable holder 400downwardly such that the attachment features 408 engage with theconnecting features 105. To secure the patch cable holder 400 to thepatch panel 104, the patch panel 105 may be provided with a retainingfeature 105 c. As shown, the retaining feature 105 c is formed as a tababove the lower connecting feature 105 b and is initially deflectedinwards by the lower attachment feature 408 b. Once the patch cableholder 400 is moved downwardly, such that the lower attachment feature408 b is engaged with the lower connecting feature 105 b, the retainingfeature 105 c snaps over the top of the lower attachment feature 408 bto lock the patch cable holder 400 to the patch panel 104. Onceinstalled, the first side 402 a of the base portion 402 is adjacent theretaining feature 105 c such that the retaining feature 105 c cannot beaccessed from the front side of the patch panel 105, thereby preventingremoval of the patch cable holder 400. However, the securing feature 105c and/or the patch cable holder 400 can be configured to allow accessfor unlocking the securing feature 105 c from the front side and/or backside of the patch panel 104 for removal of a previously installed patchcable holder 400.

As described previously, a hinge portion 406 is provided to rotatablyconnect the base portion 402 to the cable support portion 404. In oneexample, the patch cable holder 400 is an integrally formed, one-piececomponent. In one example, the patch cable holder 400 is manufacturedfrom a plastic or polymeric material. In such a configuration, the hingeportion 406 can be formed as an area of reduced material thickness toform a living hinge to allow the cable support portion 404 to rotatewith respect to the base portion 402 about axis A5 or about an axisgenerally parallel to axis A5. However, other types of hinge interfacesare possible such that the base portion 402 and the cable supportportion 404 are joined together at a hinge joint. For example, the baseportion 402 and cable support portion 404 could be configured asseparate parts with cooperating knuckles (i.e. loops, joints, nodes,curls, etc.) through which a pin extends to rotatably join the partstogether to form a hinge assembly. Other configurations are possible. Asshown, the hinge portion 406 runs continuously from a top portion 400 ato a bottom portion 400 b of the patch cable holder 400. However, thehinge portion 406 need not be formed continuously and may instead beformed by two or more intermittently spaced segments of material.

As referenced in FIGS. 25-26, the cable support portion 404 of the patchcable holder 400 may be formed as a frame having a first verticalportion 410 extending along and adjacent to the hinge portion 406 fromwhich a lower arm 412 and an upper arm 414 extend. To provide additionalsupport, a second vertical portion 416 extending between the upper andlower arms 412, 414 may be provided. As shown, the lower arm 412 extendsalong the bottom portion 400 b of the patch cable holder 400 and theupper arm 414 extends along the top portion 400 a of the patch cableholder 400. The lower arm 412 functions to support the plurality oftelecommunications patch cables 304 being held by the patch cable holder400 while the upper arm 414 cooperatively functions with the lower arm412 and the second vertical portion 416 to define an interior perimeter418 within which the cables 304 are retained. Where the second verticalportion 416 is not used, the interior perimeter can be formed by thearms 412, 414 and the first vertical portion 410.

In the embodiment shown, the lower arm 412 includes a generallyhorizontal portion 412 a extending from the first vertical portion 410and an upwardly extending vertical portion 412 b at the opposite end 412c. Similarly, the upper arm 414 includes a generally horizontal portion414 a extending from the first vertical portion 410 and a downwardlyextending vertical portion 414 b at the opposite end 414 c.

In one example, the ends 412 c, 414 c of the respective upwardlyextending portion 412 b and the downwardly extending portion 414 b canbe aligned such that they are adjacent and facing each other, but spacedapart to form a gap or passageway 420 into the interior perimeter 418.In one aspect, the gap or passageway 20 is for allowing cables 304 to beinstalled and removed from the interior perimeter 418. The gap orpassageway 420 can be provided with a dimension that is smaller than thediameter of the cables 304 for which the patch cable holder 400 isconfigured to support and retain to prevent cables 304 from migratingout of the interior perimeter 418 via the gap or passageway 420.

In one embodiment, the patch cable holder 400 is configured such thatthe upper to arm 414 is deflectable with respect to the lower arm 412such that the size of the gap or passageway 420 can be momentarilyincreased to a dimension greater than the cables 304 by an operator suchthat the cables 304 can be installed and removed from the interiorperimeter. This deflection can be achieved, for example, by rotating theupper arm 414 in the second direction R2 about an axis parallel to axisA5 and by either by holding the lower arm 412 stationary or by rotatingthe lower arm 412 in the first direction R1, or vice versa. Otherconfigurations are also possible. For example, the end 412 c of theupwardly extending portion 412 b of the lower arm 412 can be adapted todeflect outwardly away from vertical portions 410, 416 to increase thesize of the gap or passageway 20.

While this invention has been particularly shown and described withreferences to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may bemade therein without departing from the scope of the inventionencompassed by the appended claims. The drawings are not necessarily toscale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles ofthe invention and other modifications within the scope. Any suchmodifications or variations that fall within the purview of thisdescription are intended to be included therein as well. It isunderstood that the description herein is intended to be illustrativeonly and is not intended to be limitative.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS AND CORRESPONDING FEATURES

-   -   A1 pivot axis    -   A2 transverse axis    -   A3 longitudinal connection axis    -   A4 front face plane    -   A5 patch cable holder rotational axis    -   D1 first distance    -   D2 second distance    -   D3 third distance    -   D4 fourth distance    -   D5 fifth distance    -   D6 sixth distance    -   R1 first direction    -   R2 second direction    -   1 telecommunications cabinet    -   10 chassis    -   10 a rear side    -   10 b front side    -   10 c first side    -   10 d second side    -   12 attachment slots    -   14 first latch recess    -   16 second latch recess    -   20 multi-positionable tray assembly    -   22 tray    -   23 tray cover    -   22 a rear side    -   22 b front side    -   22 c first side    -   22 d second side    -   22 e interior wall structure    -   22 f radius guides    -   22 g cable guides    -   23 tray cover    -   24 support arm    -   24 a first end    -   24 b second end    -   24 c open interior side    -   24 d exterior side    -   24 e top wall    -   24 f bottom wall    -   26 pivot joint    -   28 upper joint arm    -   30 lower joint arm    -   32 upper joint extension    -   34 lower joint extension    -   36 first latch member    -   38 second latch member    -   40 attachment guide members    -   42 support arm cable guides    -   44 cable management feature    -   46 cable routing slot    -   48 cable routing aperture    -   50 patch cable holder    -   52 cover hinges    -   54 cable management feature    -   100 telecommunications panel    -   102 cable management structure    -   104 patch panel    -   105 patch panel holder connecting feature    -   105 a upper connecting feature    -   105 b lower connecting feature    -   105 c retaining feature    -   106 patch panel frame    -   106 a first end    -   106 b second end    -   108 fiber optic adapters    -   108 a first side    -   108 b second side    -   110 first fiber optic connectors    -   110 a cabled end    -   112 splice tray    -   114 second fiber optic connectors    -   114 a cabled end    -   200 folded position    -   202 access position    -   204 installed position    -   206 removed position    -   208 cable routing pathway    -   300 cables    -   302 patch cable    -   304 patch cable    -   400 patch cable holder    -   400 a top portion    -   400 b bottom portion    -   402 base portion    -   402 a first side    -   402 b second side    -   404 cable support portion    -   406 hinge portion    -   408 attachment feature    -   410 first vertical portion    -   412 lower arm    -   412 a horizontal portion    -   412 b upwardly extending portion    -   412 c first end    -   414 upper arm    -   414 a horizontal portion    -   414 b downwardly extending portion    -   414 c first end    -   416 second vertical portion    -   418 interior perimeter    -   420 gap

1.-22. (canceled)
 23. A patch cable holder comprising: a) asingle-component main body defining: i) a base structure oriented in avertical direction; ii) an attachment feature for forming a snap-fittype connection with a telecommunications component, the attachmentfeature including a pair of projection members extending from the basestructure, wherein the base structure abuts the telecommunicationscomponent when the attachment feature is engaged with thetelecommunications component; and iii) a cable support portion supportedby the base structure, the cable support portion defining a firstvertical surface, a first horizontal surface, and a second verticalsurface for supporting a plurality of patch cables.
 24. The patch cableholder of claim 23, wherein the pair of projections are provided with adovetail shape.
 25. The patch cable holder of claim 23, wherein thecable support portion is rotatable with respect to the base structure.26. The patch cable holder of claim 23, wherein the first horizontalsurface and the second vertical surface are defined by a lower supportarm.
 27. The patch cable holder of claim 26, further comprising an uppersupport arm defining a second horizontal surface.
 28. The patch cableholder of claim 27, wherein the upper support arm is deflectable withrespect to the lower support arm.
 29. The patch cable holder of claim23, wherein at least one of the projection members has a dimensionproximate the base structure that is smaller than a correspondingdimension remote from the base structure.
 30. A tray assembly formounting within a chassis of a telecommunications panel, the trayassembly comprising: a) a tray configured to support at least one cablemanagement structure; and b) a patch panel defining a front portion ofthe tray, the patch panel including an array of fiber optic adapters;and c) a plurality of the patch cable holders of claim 1 mounted to thepatch panel.
 31. The tray assembly of claim 30, wherein the patch panelis provided with a slot structure for connecting with the attachmentfeature of the patch cable holder.
 32. The tray assembly of claim 30,wherein the patch panel, for each of the plurality of patch cableholders, includes an upper connecting feature and a lower connectingfeature for connecting with the attachment feature of the patch cableholder.
 33. The tray assembly of claim 32, wherein at least one of theupper and lower connecting features is configured as a slot.
 34. Thetray assembly of claim 32, wherein at least one of the upper and lowerconnecting features is provided with a retaining feature configured tosnap over the projection member of the attachment feature of the patchcable holder.
 35. The tray assembly of claim 34, wherein the lowerconnection feature is provided with the retaining feature.
 36. The trayassembly of claim 32, wherein the upper and lower connecting featuresand the attachment feature are configured to form a dovetail joint. 37.The tray assembly of claim 36, wherein at least one of the upper andlower connecting features is provided with a retaining featureconfigured to snap over the projection member of the attachment featureof the patch cable holder.
 38. The tray assembly of claim 37, whereinthe lower connection feature is provided with the retaining feature.